Metro East Sun

After a year of power struggles between parents, local school districts and higher state powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawmakers feel that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's House Bill 2789 is wrongfully taking decision-making power away from local education entities and centralizing it with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). 

Last week on the House floor, state Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) stood up against the legislation, according to an April 23 video from the Illinois House GOP. 

"For those of you who've been asking for any kind of legislative oversight on the COVID restrictions, this is absolutely the opposite of that," Bourne said. "This will provide that ISBE is the one making the decisions on whether your student can be in school. This means that for all of the schools who worked really hard to get students back in seats, I'm sorry, the state now says you're closed.

"This takes away all local control. I urge a no vote."

Illinois parents are passionate about their children's schooling and the freedom to choose in-person instruction. In March, roughly 400 parents from across nine school districts rallied in downtown Naperville to demand students be given the opportunity to return to the classroom. 

According to Chicago Tribune reporting, the event attracted Republican legislators, media, law enforcement and school board officials. 

"Even though the current school year is nearing completion, even a few weeks of full in-person learning is completely worth it,” a parent told the Tribune. “I don’t think we should just throw in the towel.”